Royal Caribbean has now announced the name for its "Ultra Voyager." The ship will be called "Freedom of the Seas." The name was disclosed earlier this month when Kvaerner Masa-Yards lowered the 433 ton first block of the ship into the building dock.

"Freedom of the Seas will be the most head-turning, most innovative and most forward-looking ship in the cruise industry," said Richard D. Fain, Royal Caribbean Chairman and CEO. "Its name was chosen deliberately to convey the enormity of features and amenities offered on this extraordinary ship."

At 158,000 grt, the 1,112 ft Freedom of the Seas will be the world's largest cruise ship when it enters service in April 2006. The 3,600-guest ship (double occupancy) will sail year-round, seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami. Bookings are scheduled to open in spring 2005.

Freedom of the Seas builds on the line's popular Voyager-class ships, with elements such as the Royal Promenade, rock-climbing wall and ice-skating rink. However, Royal Caribbean promises to reveal "major new features" as building progresses.

Meantime, Royal Caribbean says that, in keeping with its "freedom" theme, great freedom of space is planned for the new ship. Freedom of the Seas will have some of the largest guest staterooms and the most spacious balconies in the industry. One reason for the roominess? Freedom of the Seas will have full-size, yet space-saving, flat screen TVs in 100 percent of the guest staterooms and public areas.

"The first-in-the-industry flat screen TVs dovetail with other technologies onboard, earning Freedom of the Seas the distinction of being the most digitally-advanced cruise ship at sea," says Royal Caribbean The new ship will be free of wires by having extensive WiFi capabilities and connectivity for regular cell phones. Other functions will enhance the ship's security, navigational and environmental-management systems.